Prince claims that overpopulation threatens planet

Prince William, who is expecting a third child, said Africa’s population growth was ‘staggering’ (Getty)

Prince William has been criticised for saying that “staggering” population growth in Africa could have a “terrible impact” on the environment.

The Prince was speaking at the Tusk Trust Ball last Thursday. He is a patron of Tusk Trust, which was set up in 1990 to protect African wildlife.

“In my lifetime we have seen global wildlife populations decline by over half,” Prince William said. “Africa’s rapidly growing human population is predicted to more than double by 2050 – a staggering increase of three and a half million people per month.

There is no question that this increase puts wildlife and habitat under enormous pressure.

“Urbanisation, infrastructure development, cultivation – all good things in themselves, but they will have a terrible impact unless we begin to plan and to take measures now.”

He added: “On human populations alone, over-grazing and poor water supplies could have a catastrophic effect unless we start to think about how to mitigate these challenges.”

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